Morning Hits: Injury Updates and PTOs
No trade restrictions between Canada and the U.S. No Olympic announcement yet but Hockey Canada is preparing, USA Hockey not yet. Forbes 2020 NHL Team Valuations
On the Roberto Luongo …

Luke Fox: Roberto Luongo is hopeful that he’ll be ready for the start of the season, though he said “there’s still work to be done.”

On Tyler Seguin …

Dallas Stars: Tyler Seguin is leaving Team Canada and will be returning to Dallas to be further evaluated by their doctors.

Mike Heika: On Seguin’s injury: It’s not his knee and it’s only a seven-10 injury and should not affect his regular season. Team Canada couldn’t wait for the recovery time.

On the Rickard Rakell …

Eric Stephens: Hearing that Rickard Rakell’s illness could possibly be related to the appendix removal surgery that he had back at the end of March.

On the Vladimir Sobotka …

Shawn Roarke: Vladimir Sobotka said he’s close to being 100 percent after practice yesterday. He could play against Team North America today, though it’s not clear if he will.

On the Mikhail Grabovski …

Andy Graziano: Have been told that Mikhail Grabovski will meet with Islanders doctors next week to see if he can get clearance for training camp.

On PTO’s …

Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province: The Vancouver Canucks are bringing James Sheppard, Tuomo Ruutu and Kevin Carr to training camp on a PTO. The Canucks have six players in the World Cup of Hockey and want to make sure there is competition at camp. Shepard on the PTO:

“Things change quickly and it’s a chance to show what I have,” the Halifax native said Tuesday after an informal skate a Rogers Arena. “They (Canucks) have liked me in the past and you never know what can happen. For me, it’s being a sound player and somebody you can rely upon to play hard every night.”

Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: The St. Louis Blues will bring in forwards T.J. Galiardi, Eric Nystrom, Yan Stastny, Chris Porter and defensemen Mike Weber and Scooter Vaughan on PTOs.

“I think we’re a good sale for (tryouts) because we had two guys earn contracts last year,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said.

Dean Molberg: The Calgary Flames could be offering defenseman Nicklas Grossmann a PTO.

Chris Johnston: Mike Brown will attend the Columbus Blue Jackets camp on a PTO.

Arthur Staple: Stephen Gionta officially signs a PTO with the NY Islanders.